Method, apparatus, computer product program and computer readable recording medium for confirming contents of edited file

ABSTRACT

An image forming apparatus, method, and computer program product, in which image data stored in a file can be printed in two printing modes when a sample printing mode is selected. A first page printing mode is a mode in which only a first page of a selected file is printed. A designated page range printing mode is a mode in which a designated page range of the selected file is printed in order of pages. A mismatch between the number of pages of the selected file and a designated page range is judged. When the mismatch arises, a warning is displayed on a display device of the image forming apparatus to give the warning to an operator.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

1. Field of the Invention

The present invention relates to an image forming apparatus, such as acopying machine, a printer, a facsimile, etc., and more particularly, toa method, an apparatus, a computer product program, and a computerreadable recording medium for processing stored image data.

2. Discussion of the Background

An image forming apparatus, which stores image information (includingtext data) and prints it, is commonly known. For example, JapanesePatent Laid-Open Publication No. 11-27492 discloses an image formingapparatus which stores image information input via an image reading unitor a host computer in a memory device. By designating a plurality offiles and a printing order, the image forming apparatus processes thedesignated image data as a series of image groups linked in order of thedesignation.

As a method for preventing an erroneous copy (i.e., print) in printing aplurality of files in order of setting, a so-called sample printing modeis well-known. In the sample printing mode, whether or not the contentsof the files (i.e., image data) are correct is confirmed. In a sampleprinting mode of a background art, only image data in a first page ofeach file of a plurality of selected files is output for printing (i.e.,a first page printing mode). An outline of contents of each file can beanalogically confirmed by this sample printing, which is useful forpreventing an erroneous copy (i.e., print).

In recent years, an editing function of a file has been improved withenhancement of functions of an image forming apparatus. A file editingof a plurality of files, such as a deletion of a specific page of afile, an insertion of a file or a page into a specific page, and amerger (i.e., combination) of a plurality of files can be performed.

When the above-mentioned various file edits are performed, it isunlikely that a result of the edits can sufficiently be checked by thefirst page printing mode of the background art. Therefore, it isnecessary for an operator to print all the images of the designated fileto check that the file includes the required image data, and to confirmwhether or not the file is correctly edited (i.e., the file is edited asrequired by the operator).

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The present invention has been made in view of the above-mentioned andother problems and addresses the above-discussed and other problems.

The present invention advantageously provides a novel image formingapparatus and method in which contents of a file can be confirmed evenafter various editing operations are performed.

According to an embodiment of the present invention, an image formingapparatus includes a storage device configured to store input imageinformation. A printer is configured to print the image informationstored in the storage device on a recording medium. A management datastorage device is configured to handle a cluster of the imageinformation stored in the storage device as a file and store imagemanagement data and file management data of the image information. Afile selector is configured to select a file to be printed. A printingmode selector is configured to select between a primary printing mode inwhich all the image information of the file selected by the fileselector is printed and a sample printing mode in which a part of theimage information of the file selected by the file selector is printed.A page range designating device is configured to designate a range ofpages to be printed when the sample printing mode is selected. And, acontroller is configured to read image information of a page rangedesignated by the page range designating device in a file selected bythe file selector out of image information stored in the storage devicebased on the management data stored in the management data storagedevice and to print the read image information by the printer, when aprint start instruction is provided with the sample printing modeselected by the printing mode selector and the page range designated bythe page range designating device.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

A more complete appreciation of the present invention and many of theattendant advantages thereof will be readily obtained as the samebecomes better understood by reference to the following detaileddescription when considered in connection with the accompanyingdrawings, wherein:

FIG. 1 is a diagram illustrating a whole system in which a digitalcopying machine, as an example of an image forming apparatus, isconnected to a host computer on a local area network (LAN);

FIG. 2 is a sectional view illustrating an exemplary construction of thedigital copying machine;

FIG. 3 is a top plan view of an operation unit of the digital copyingmachine;

FIG. 4 shows a display screen of a liquid crystal touch panel forsetting a copy function;

FIG. 5 shows a display screen of the liquid crystal touch panel foroperating a printer function;

FIG. 6 shows another exemplary display screen of the liquid crystaltouch panel;

FIG. 7 shows another exemplary display screen of the liquid crystaltouch panel;

FIG. 8 shows another exemplary display screen of the liquid crystaltouch panel:

FIG. 9 shows another exemplary display screen of the liquid crystaltouch panel;

FIG. 10 shows another exemplary display screen of the liquid crystaltouch panel;

FIG. 11 shows another exemplary display screen of the liquid crystaltouch panel;

FIG. 12 is a block diagram illustrating an outline of an electric systemof the digital copying machine in FIG. 2;

FIG. 13 is a block diagram illustrating exemplary constructions of animage reading unit and an image writing unit;

FIG. 14 is a timing diagram illustrating correlation between image dataoutput by a selector in FIG. 13 (i.e., effective image data in a mainscanning direction) and timing signals;

FIG. 15 is a block diagram illustrating exemplary constructions of animage memory controller and an image memory in FIG. 13;

FIG. 16 is a schematic drawing illustrating a construction of filemanagement data for a file storage registration and management;

FIG. 17 is a flowchart illustrating a command process;

FIG. 18 is a flowchart illustrating a storing process of image data;

FIG. 19 is a flowchart illustrating a registrating process of an imageinput from a scanner;

FIG. 20 is a flowchart illustrating a storing operation of image datainput from the scanner;

FIG. 21 is a flowchart illustrating a printing operation of image datastored in a memory;

FIG. 22 is a flowchart illustrating a copying process of stored imagedata;

FIGS. 23A and 23B are flowcharts illustrating a page printing process;

FIG. 24 is a flowchart illustrating a designated page range inputprocess;

FIG. 25 shows a display screen for setting a page print output for asample printing of an image stored in a file according to anotherexample;

FIG. 26 is a flowchart illustrating a stored image data copy processaccording to another example;

FIG. 27 is a flowchart illustrating details of a file selection processin the stored image data copy process;

FIG. 28 is a flowchart illustrating details of the page printing processin FIG. 26;

FIG. 29 is a flowchart illustrating details of a match check process ofdesignated page range data performed in FIG. 27;

FIGS. 30A and 30B are flowcharts illustrating details of a designatedpage range input process performed in FIG. 28;

FIG. 31 is a flowchart illustrating details of a designated page rangeprinting process performed in FIG. 28;

FIGS. 32A and 32B are flowcharts illustrating details of the designatedpage range input process according to another example;

FIGS. 33A and 33B are flowcharts illustrating details the designatedpage printing process according to another example; and

FIG. 34 is an exemplary display screen for giving a warning to anoperator when a mismatch arises.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

Referring now to the drawings, wherein like reference numerals designateidentical or corresponding parts throughout the several views, FIG. 1 isa diagram illustrating a whole system in which a digital copyingmachine, as an example of an image forming apparatus, is connected to ahost computer on a LAN (Local-Area Network). A digital copying machine200 in FIG. 1 is an image forming apparatus that includes scanner andprinter functions. The digital copying machine 200 is connected to ahost machine 300, such as a personal computer, via a network or aparallel interface, and it can output print data provided from the hostmachine 300. Of course, the digital copying machine 200 also works as astandalone copier.

FIG. 2 is a sectional view illustrating an exemplary construction of thedigital copying machine 200. As illustrated in FIG. 2, the digitalcopying machine 200 includes an automatic original document feeder 1(hereinafter referred to as an ADF 1) provided at the upper part thereofand a finisher 100 disposed to a side thereof. In this copying machine,a set of original documents placed face up (not shown) on an originaldocument feeding tray 2 of the ADF 1 are fed, sheet-by-sheet startingfrom the original document placed at the bottom of the set of theoriginal documents, to a predetermined position on a platen 6 by anoriginal document feeding roller 3 and by an original document feedingbelt 4, when a start key 34 is depressed (see also FIG. 3). The startkey 34 is provided in a below-mentioned operation unit 3. An originaldocument reading unit 50 reads image data of the original documentplaced on the platen 6. The original document with the image data readis then discharged by the original document feeding belt 4 and by anoriginal document discharging roller 5. When an original document setsensor detects a next original document placed on the original documentfeeding tray 2, the original document is fed to the predeterminedposition on the platen 6 in the same manner in which the precedingoriginal document was fed. The original document feeding roller 3, theoriginal document feeding belt 4, and the original document dischargingroller 5 are driven by a motor.

A transfer sheet loaded in a first sheet feeding cassette 8, a secondsheet feeding cassette 9, or a third sheet feeding cassette 10 is fed bya first sheet feeding unit 11, a second sheet feeding unit 12, or athird sheet feeding unit 13, respectively. The transfer sheet is thenconveyed by a vertical sheet conveying unit 14 to a position where thetransfer sheet abuts against photoconductive element 15. Image data readby the original document reading unit 50 is written on a surface of thephotoconductive element 15 with a laser beam light emitted by a writingunit 57. A toner image is formed on the surface of the photoconductiveelement 15 with toner by a developing unit 27. Then, the toner imageformed on the photoconductive element 15 is transferred onto a transfersheet, while the transfer paper is conveyed by a sheet conveying belt 16at the same speed as that of rotation of the photoconductive element 15.The toner image is fixed onto the transfer sheet by a fixing unit 17.The transfer sheet is then discharged to the finisher 100 by a sheetdischarging unit 18.

In the finisher 100, the transfer sheet discharged by a dischargingroller provided in the main body of the digital copying machine 200 isconveyed either in a direction where a sheet discharging roller 102 isdisposed or in a direction where a stapling process is performed. Byswitching a switching plate 101 in an upward direction, the transfersheet is discharged to an exit tray 104 via a sheet conveying roller103. When the switching plate 101 is switched in a downward direction,the transfer sheet is conveyed to a stapler tray 108 via sheet conveyingrollers 105 and 107.

A transfer sheet loaded on the stapler tray 108 is jogged by a joggereach time the transfer sheet is discharged to the stapler tray 108.These transfer sheets are then stapled by a stapler 106 when a set ofprintings is completed. The set of stapled transfer sheets is stored ina stapled-sheet exit tray 110 by its dead weight.

The exit tray 104 is movable back-and-forth. The movable exit tray 104simply sorts out discharged transfer sheets, by moving back-and-forth,per each original document or per each set of printings sorted by animage memory.

When forming images on both-surfaces of a transfer sheet, the transfersheet supplied from each of the sheet feeding cassettes 8 through 10which carries an image on one surface thereof is not conveyed to thefinisher 100. This transfer sheet is instead conveyed to a duplex unit111 to be tentatively stocked there by switching a switching pick 112 inan upward direction. The transfer sheet stocked in the duplex unit 111is then refed from the duplex unit 111 to have an image, which is formedagain on the surface of the photoconductive element 15, transferred onthe other-side surface thereof. The transfer sheet having images formedon both-surfaces is conveyed to the finisher 100 by switching theswitching pick 112 in a downward direction. As described above, theduplex unit 111 is used when forming images on both-surfaces of atransfer sheet.

A main motor 25 (see FIG. 12) drives the photoconductive element 15, thesheet conveying belt 16, the sheet discharging unit 18, and thedeveloping unit 27. Each of the sheet feeding units 11 though 13 isdriven by the main motor 25 via sheet feeding clutches 22 through 24(see FIG. 12). The vertical sheet conveying unit 14 is driven by themain motor 25 via an intermediate clutch 21 (see FIG. 12).

Constructions and operations of an image reading unit and an imageforming section of the digital copying machine 200 are now describedbelow. The original document reading unit (i.e., scanner) 50 includesthe platen 6 on which an original document is placed, and an opticalscanning system. The optical scanning system includes an exposure lamp51, a first mirror 52, a lens 53, and a CCD image sensor 54. Theexposure lamp 51 and the first mirror 52 are fixed on a first carriage(not shown). A second mirror 55 and a third mirror 56 are fixed on asecond carriage (not shown). The first carriage and the second carriagemechanically move at the relative speed of 2:1 (i.e., two to one) toscan an image of an original document so that an optical path lengthdoes not change. The optical scanning system is driven by a scannerdriving motor (not shown). An image of the original document is read bythe CCD image sensor 54. The read image is converted into an electricsignal (an analog image signal), and is then converted into digital data(image data). Several image processings are performed on the image data.

The writing unit 57 includes a laser output unit 58, an imaging lens 59,and a mirror 60. The laser output unit 58 internally includes a laserdiode which is a laser source, and a polygon mirror which is rotated ata high and constant speed by a motor. Laser beam light emitted from thelaser output unit 58 is polarized by the polygon mirror rotating at aconstant speed, and passes through the imaging lens 59. The laser beamlight is reflected by the mirror 60, and is then converged on a surfaceof a photoconductive element for forming an image thereon.

The polarized laser beam light is scanned in a direction orthogonal tothe rotating direction of the photoconductive element 15 (i.e., in amain scanning direction). Then, a line unit of an image of an imagesignal output from a selector 64 disposed in a below-mentioned imageprocessing section is recorded. By repeating the scanning in the mainscanning direction in a predetermined cycle corresponding to arotational speed of the photoconductive element 15 and a recordingdensity, an image (electrostatic latent image) is formed on a surface ofthe photoconductive element 15. As described above, the photoconductiveelement 15, which constitutes an image forming system, is irradiatedwith the laser beam light emitted from the writing unit 57. A beamsensor (not shown) generating a main scanning direction synchronizingsignal is disposed adjacent to one end of the photoconductive element 15where the laser beam light is irradiated. Based on the main scanningdirection synchronizing signal, a time to start recording an image in amain scanning direction is controlled. A control signal for controllingan input/output of a below-mentioned image signal is generated accordingto the main scanning direction synchronizing signal.

FIG. 3 is a top plan view of an operation unit of the image formingapparatus 200. The operation unit 30 includes a liquid crystal touchpanel 31, a ten-key pad 32, a clear/stop key 33, a mode clearance key35, an initial setting key 38, and a test printing key 40. The crystaltouch panel 31 includes a function key 37 and displays a message showingthe number of printings and a state of the image forming apparatus. Thetest printing key 40 is provided for printing only 1 sheet irrespectiveof the set number of printings to confirm a resultant print.

The operation unit 30 further includes a function switching key section39 in which a copy key 41, a stored image data copy key 42, and aprinter key 43 are provided to designate a [copy function], a [storedimage data copy function], and a [printer function], respectively.

The copy function controls copying an image read by the scanner 50 ontoa transfer sheet via a designated operation. The printer functioncontrols printing an image based on image data and instructions providedby the outside host machine 300 which is connected to the image formingapparatus 200 via a LAN, a parallel I/F, and so forth. The stored imagedata copy function controls storing an image read by a scanner and imagedata provided from outside to print the stored image data according toinstructions of an operator.

FIGS. 4 through 11 show exemplary displays of the liquid crystal touchpanel 31 of the operation unit 30. When an operator touches a keydisplayed on the liquid crystal touch panel 31, the key indicating theselected function is displayed in reverse. When details of a functionmust be designated (for example, designation of a value of reduction ormagnification), it can be done by touching a key in the liquid crystaltouch panel 31. The details of the set function are then displayed onthe liquid crystal touch panel 31. Because a dot indicator is used inthe liquid crystal touch panel 31, an optimum indication is graphicallydisplayed.

FIG. 4 shows the display screen of the liquid crystal touch panel 31 forselecting and setting the copy function. A display screen of the liquidcrystal touch panel 31 includes a message area in the left upper regionthereof where messages, such as “copying is ready”, “please wait”, andso forth, are displayed, and a copy number indication area at the righthand side of the message area where the set number of printings isdisplayed.

In the lower region of the message area and the area where the setnumber of printings is displayed, the display screen of the liquidcrystal touch panel 31 further includes an automatic density key, anautomatic transfer sheet selection key, a sorting key, a stacking key, astapling key, a same size printing key, a reduction/magnificationprinting key, a both sides/integration/division printing key, anediting/printing key, and a front cover/slip sheet key. The automaticdensity key controls automatically adjusting a density of an image to beprinted. The automatic transfer sheet selection key controlsautomatically selecting a transfer sheet. The sorting key controlsdesignating a sorting of printed transfer sheets in the order of pages.The stacking key controls stacking printed transfer sheets on apage-by-page. The stapling key controls stapling a set of the sortedprinted transfer sheets. The same size-printing key controls setting thesize of a printing image at the same size while thereduction/magnification printing key controls designating a reduced oran enlarged printing of an image. The both sides/integration/divisionprinting key controls setting a printing mode including a both sides, anintegrated, or a divisional printing modes. The editing/printing keycontrols designating a mode in which a binding margin is secured orprinting a stamp, a date, and a page. The front cover/slip sheet keycontrols inserting a partition in the beginning of images or in themiddle of images. In this figure, a key indicating a selected mode isdisplayed in reverse (i.e., shown via shading).

FIG. 5 shows a display screen of the liquid crystal touch panel 31 foroperating the printer function. The display screen displays anon-line/off-line key for setting permission of a printing demand, acompulsory discharging key that forcibly discharges an image, the dataof which is input and is not discharged. A data input indication whichshows a state of input image data, and an indication of a set situationof a transfer sheet, are also displayed on the display screen.

FIGS. 6 through 11 show display screens of the liquid crystal touchpanel 31 for operating the stored image data copy function. FIG. 6 showsa display screen displaying each file list of stored image data when thestored image data copy key 42 shown in FIG. 3 is depressed. A name of auser and file name, a page number, and a registration time of atransferred image are displayed. The displays shown via shading indicatefiles selected to be output. A number displayed under the heading of“order” shows a printing order of the files. A selection of a file ismade by touching a file list displayed on the liquid crystal touch panel31. The selection of the file can be cancelled by touching the selectedfile again. More than one file can be selected and the selected filesare output in order of selection. A printing key 44 is provided to shiftthe display screen to that for printing a set file (see FIG. 7). Areading key 46 is provided to shift the display screen to that forstoring an image input from a scanner (see FIG. 8). A page printing key45 is arranged to shift the display screen for printing a selected file(see FIGS. 9 through 11). A cancellation key 47 is arranged to cancelall selected files. Keys labeled with arrows in the directions of upward48 and downward 49 are provided to scroll hidden files into view, whenthe number of files for stored image data exceeds the number of fileswhich can be displayed on the screen at one time.

FIG. 7 shows a display screen for outputting stored image data, which isdisplayed when the printing key 44 (see FIG. 6) is depressed. When anoutput condition is set, a copying operation is started by depressingthe start key 34 (see FIG. 3). When a plurality of files are selected,images are processed as a group of images bundled in the order ofselection. Therefore, when a staple mode is set, a stapling operation isperformed based on the selected whole images instead of on a basis ofeach file.

FIG. 8 shows a display screen of the liquid crystal touch panel 31 forperforming a storing operation of an image supplied from a scanner. Thescreen is displayed when the reading key 46 (see FIG. 6) is depressed.When each mode is set, an image reading operation is performed bydepressing the start key 34. A user name and a file name of this fileare automatically set as shown in the illustrated example. When thereare a plurality of files, each file is uniquely named such that thefiles are distinguished from each other. The image reading operationends when an end key 80 is depressed, and the file is closed.

FIG. 9 shows a display screen to set a page printing mode for a sampleprinting of an image stored in a file. The screen is displayed when thepage printing key 45 (see FIG. 6) is depressed. In a page printing mode,a first page printing mode and a designated page range printing mode canbe selected. In the first page printing mode, only a first page of aselected file is printed (when a plurality of files are designated, afirst page of each designated file is output in the selected order ofthe files). In the designated page range printing mode, the designatedrange of pages of one file (e.g., pages 5 through 7 in FIG. 9) isprinted. When a file selection is made on a display screen displayingeach file list illustrated in FIG. 6, and a page printing key 45 isdepressed, the display screen is shifted to that shown in FIG. 9 whenonly one file is selected. When a plurality of files are selected, thedisplay screen is shifted to that shown in FIG. 10.

On the display screen in FIG. 9, a first page printing mode key 76 and adesignated page printing mode key 77 can be selected. In FIG. 9, thedesignated page printing mode is set and the printing page range isinput with the starting page and the ending page. The total number ofpages of selected files is displayed below the designated page printingmode key 77 (e.g., 18 pages in an example shown in FIG. 9) to warn anoperator of a maximum value of a page range. A designated page can beinput by depressing the designated page printing mode key 77 first ofall, and then a starting page is input by using the ten-key pad 32 (seeFIG. 3). When an ending page is input, a page range designating key 78labeled with [˜] is depressed, which puts the apparatus into an endingpage input mode. The ending page is then input by using the ten-key pad32. When a designated page is not correctly input, a clear key 79 isdepressed which puts the apparatus into a state in which the designatedpage printing mode key 77 is depressed. Then, a correct starting pagecan be input again.

In FIG. 10, the designated page printing mode key 77, the [˜] key 78,and the clear key 79 are masked such that these keys cannot be selectedbecause a plurality of files are selected.

FIG. 11 shows a state in which the designated page printing mode key 77is depressed and only a starting page is input. Generally, a startingpage and an ending page are input at the same time. For example, whenonly the 5th page of a file is printed, usually [5] is input as thestarting page, and then [5] is input as the ending page after the [˜]key 78 is depressed. However, the 5th page of the file alone can beprinted by depressing the start key 34 after inputting the starting pagealone without inputting the ending page as shown in FIG. 11.

FIG. 12 is a block diagram illustrating an outline of an electric systemof the image forming apparatus 200. FIG. 13 is a block diagramillustrating details of a part of the electric system of the imageforming apparatus 200. FIG. 12 illustrates controlling units of theimage forming apparatus 200 centering on a main controller 20.

Referring to FIG. 12, the main controller 20 controls a whole system ofthe image forming apparatus 200. The main controller 20 is connected todecentralized control units, such as the operation unit 30, an IPU(i.e., image processing unit) 49, and the ADF 1. The operation unit 30displays information for an operator and controls inputs from theoperator for setting functions. The IPU 49 controls the scanner, awriting operation of an original image into an image memory, and alsocontrols a forming operation of an image stored in the image memory. Themain controller 20 communicates with each of the decentralized controlunits for exchanging information about a state of the apparatus and anoperating command as necessary. Additionally, the main motor 25 used forconveying a transfer sheet, and various kinds of clutches 21 through 24,is connected to a driver (not shown) of the main controller 20.

A printer controller 88 analyzes an image and a print instructingcommand supplied from the outside to bitmap the image as image data tobe printed and to determine a printing operation by analyzing a printingmode from the command. A LAN-I/F section 90 and a parallel I/F section89 receive the image and the command via the LAN and the parallel I/F.

Referring to FIG. 13, exemplary constructions of a scanner and a printer(i.e., an image reading unit and image writing unit) of the imageforming apparatus 200 are now described below. FIG. 13 also illustratesa configuration of the main controller 20 (see FIG. 12).

Beam light emitted from the exposure lamp 51 (shown in FIG. 2)irradiates a surface of an original document. The beam light reflectedfrom the surface of the original document is led to the lens 53 (shownin FIG. 2) to form a focused image on the CCD image sensor 54. An analogimage signal generated by the CCD image sensor is converted into adigital signal by an A/D (analog/digital) converter 61. After a shadingcorrection 62 on the image signal converted into the digital signal iscarried out, a MTF correction and a γ correction are performed by animage processing section 63. The selector 64 switches a destination ofthe image signal between an image size control section 71 and an imagememory controller 65. The selector 64 is configured to exchange imagesignals with external apparatuses, such as a printer, via an outsideimage input/output section 75.

When an image is combined with image data, image data generated by aprinting image data generator (printing unit) 74 is combined with theabove-described image signals by a primary printing synthesis section 72or a secondary printing synthesis section 73. The printing image datagenerator 74 is connected to a CPU bus and generates a character imagefor a page printing, i.e. an arbitrary image for a stamp. Image datagenerated by the printing image data generator 74 is input to theprimary printing synthesis section 72 and the secondary printingsynthesis section 73 to combine an arbitrary image with image data of anoriginal document or image data stored in the image memory 66. Theprinting image data generator 74 not only generates printing image databut also sets a position where the generated image data is combined.

An image signal provided to the image size control section 71 is reducedor enlarged therein according to a designated rate of reduction ormagnification, and is then provided to the writing unit 57. The imagememory controller 65 and the selector 64 are configured to input andoutput an image signal bidirectionally between them. Though notspecified in FIG. 13, the image processing unit (IPU) 49 includes afunction that selects an input/output of a plurality of data. Therebythe image processing unit 49 can process image data supplied from theoutside (for example, data output from a data processing apparatus, suchas a personal computer) in addition to image data input from theoriginal document reading unit 50.

A lower half part of FIG. 13 illustrates an internal construction of themain controller (shown in FIG. 12). The main controller 20 includes aCPU 68, a ROM 69, a RAM 70, the image memory controller 65, the imagememory 66, and an I/O port 67.

The CPU 68 sets the image memory controller 65 and controls the originaldocument reading unit 50 and the writing unit 57. The ROM 69 and the RAM70 store programs and data. In addition, the CPU 68 carries out awriting and readout of data of the image memory 66 through the memorycontroller 65. The I/O port 67 is connected to the CPU 68, the ROM 69,the RAM 70, and the image memory controller 65 via an address bus anddata bus so that a drive unit or a device to read a recording medium(not shown) can be connected via the I/O port 67.

Referring to FIG. 14, synchronizing signals of image data are nowdescribed below. A frame gate signal: /FGATE (a forward slash mark “/”means an overline of the FGATE) indicates an effective time period ofimage data of one page in a sub-scanning direction. A line synchronizingsignal (/LSYNC) is a synchronizing signal for each one line of imagedata in a main scanning direction. Image data becomes effective afterthe /LSYNC rises and a predetermined number of clock signals aregenerated. The /LGATE signal indicates that the image data is effectivein the main scanning direction. These signals synchronize to a pixelclock (i.e., VCLK), and one pixel of image data is output for one cycleof the VCLK. The IPU 49 (shown in FIG. 12) is configured to generate/FGATE, /LSYNC, /LGATE, and VCLK for each image input and output. Thus,a combination of a various image input/output is implemented.

FIG. 15 is a block diagram illustrating exemplary constructions of theimage memory controller 65 and the image memory 66 in FIG. 13. The imagememory controller 65 includes an input data selector 81, an imagesynthesis section 82, a primary image compression/decompression section83, an output data selector 84, and a secondarycompression/decompression section 85 as a block. A setting of controldata to each block is performed by the CPU 68. “DATA” shown in FIG. 15indicates an image data bus in which image data flows. An address databus connected to the CPU 68 is not illustrated in FIG. 15.

The image memory 66 includes a primary memory device 86 and a secondarymemory device 87. As for the primary memory device 86, a fast accessiblememory, such as a DRAM, is used so that a writing operation of data intoa memory or a reading operation of data from the memory when an image isinput is performed at a high speed. The writing operation of the datainto the memory is performed approximately in synchronization with atransfer speed of input image data. Further, the primary memory device86 includes an interface section with the image memory controller 65.The interface section is configured such that input and outputoperations are simultaneously performed by dividing image data into aplurality of areas according to a size of the image data. The primarymemory device 86 is connected to the interface section of the imagememory controller 65 with two sets of address data lines for a readingoperation and for a writing operation so that an input of image datainto each of the divided areas (e.g. areas 1 and 2) and an output of theimage data from each of the divided areas are carried out in parallel.Thereby, an outputting operation (i.e., reading) of an image from thearea 2 can be performed, while an inputting operation (i.e., writing) ofan image into the area 1 is performed.

The secondary memory device 87 has a large memory capacity so that itcan store image data to produce a combined image of input images or tosort out the input images. When a fast accessible element is used forboth the primary and the secondary memory devices 86 and 87, dataprocessing is performed irrespective of the primary and the secondarymemory devices 86 and 87, resulting in ease of control. However, becausean element, such as the DRAM etc., is expensive, a large-capacityrecording medium with a comparatively low access speed may be used asthe secondary memory device 87. Thus, processing of input and outputdata is performed via the primary memory device 86.

With the image memory 66 configured as described above, an image formingapparatus, in which processing of a large amount of data, such as aninput/output, a storage, and a manipulation of data is performed, can beprovided with a comparatively simple construction and at a relativelylow cost.

Next, an operation of the image memory controller 65 is now explainedbelow.

{circle around (1)}: An image input (i.e., writing to the image memory66). The image data selector 81 selects image data to be written intothe image memory 66 (i.e., the primary memory device 86) among aplurality of image data. The image data selected by the input dataselector 81 is supplied to the image synthesis section 82 in which theimage data is combined with image data which has been stored in theimage memory 66.

The image data processed by the image synthesis section 82 is compressedby the primary image compression/decompression section 83. The imagedata is then written into the primary memory device 86. The image datawritten into the primary memory device 86 is further compressed asnecessary by the secondary compression/decompression section 85. Theimage data is then stored in the secondary memory device 87.

{circle around (2)}: An image output (i.e., readout from the imagememory 66). When an image is output, image data stored in the primarymemory device 86 is read out. When image data to be output has beenstored in the primary memory device 86, the image data is decompressedby the primary image compression/decompression section 83. The outputdata selector 84 selects the decompressed image data or data created bycombining the decompressed image data and an input image data, andoutputs the selected data.

The image synthesis section 82 performs processing, such as acombination of image data stored in the primary memory device 86 andinput image data (i.e., it has a phase adjustment function of imagedata), and a selection of a destination of the combined image data(i.e., an image output or a write back to the primary memory device 86is performed, or the image output and the write back to the primarymemory device 86 can simultaneously be performed).

When image data to be output has not been stored in the primary memorydevice 86, the image data that has been stored in the secondary memorydevice 87 is decompressed by the secondary compression/decompressionsection 85. Then, the above-described image output operation isperformed after the decompressed image data is written into the primarymemory device 86.

FIG. 16 is a schematic drawing illustrating a construction of managementdata used for a file storage registration and file management. File namedata, user name data, storage time data, and data on the number of pagesare controlled on a file-by-file basis as file control data. These dataare arranged in a block. A new file is registered below these blocks,and the number of a registered file is then incremented. When filed datais deleted, data filed next to it is brought forward. The number of theregistered file is then decremented. The registration file numberindicates the number of registered files.

A file registered as a printer file is given a printer file registrationmanagement number. The printer file registration management number isused for identifying the file in management files. A scanner fileregistration management number is given to a file registered as ascanner file.

A management file number is arranged in the order of printing asprinting order management data. When the management file number is notgiven, “−1” (byte width data of FFH) is given. Files arranged from thetop to the file bearing the management file number of “−1” areidentified as a series of files to be printed, when printing. Image datastored in both a printer file and a scanner file can be set as printingorder management data.

An image to be stored in a memory is designated by controlling an imagenumber with data of 2 bytes including one higher-column byte forcontrolling a file number and one lower-column byte for controlling thenumber of pages (i.e., from page 0 to the designated page). Access to amemory unit is controlled by this image number. Therefore, in the casethe management file number is 2 and the number of pages are 5, thebelow-described image number is given from the front. That is,512(0200H), 513(0201H), 514(0202H), 515(0203H), and 516(0204H).

When a plurality of files are printed at the same time, a memory numberis determined by a management file number and the number of pages inorder of printing order management data. The number of pages controlledby the printing order management data is printed as a group of images.

Next, processing functions of the CPU 68 (shown in FIG. 13) are nowexplained below. FIG. 17 is a flowchart illustrating processing (i.e., acommand processing) performed by the CPU 68 in response to a commandfrom a host machine, such as a print demand. Whether a command isreceived or not is judged at step S1 (hereinafter referred to simply asS1). At S2, whether or not the received command is a printer fileregistration command is determined. When the command is for registratingin a printer file, Yes in S2, a file region for storing data as filemanagement data is secured at S2-1. The apparatus becomes a printer fileregistration state at S2-2. A management file number obtained at S2-1 ismemorized as a printer registration management file number at S2-3. Thefile management data is registered in the order of each file block. Theprinter file registration state means the state in which an imagesupplied from a printer I/F is stored. Then, the number of pagescorresponding to the file management data is initialized (i.e., clearedwith “0”) at S2-4. The registration file number is then incremented atS2-5.

When the CPU 68 receives a user name registration command at S3, i.e.Yes at S3, whether or not the apparatus is in the printer fileregistration state is confirmed at S3-1. When it is confirmed that theapparatus is in the printer file registration state, Yes at S3-1, theuser name is memorized as user name data corresponding to filemanagement data at S3-2. When the apparatus is not in the printer fileregistration state, No at S3-1, the command is disregarded as an invalidcommand.

Further, when the CPU 68 receives a file name registration command atS4, it is confirmed whether or not the apparatus is in the printer fileregistration state at S4-1. The file name is memorized at S4-2 when itis in the printer file registration state, i.e. when Yes at S4-1. Whenthe apparatus is not in the printer file registration state, No at S4-1,the command is disregarded as an invalid command.

When the CPU 68 receives a time registration command at S5, whether ornot the apparatus is in the printer file registration state isdetermined at S5-1. The time is memorized when it is in the printer fileregistration state at S5-2, i.e. when Yes at S5-1. When the apparatus isnot in the printer file registration state, No at S5-1, the command isdisregarded as an invalid command.

The printer file registration state is canceled at S7, when the CPU 68receives a printer file registration end command at S-6. Theregistration on this file ends by this registration releasing command.

FIG. 18 is a flowchart illustrating an image data storing process in theprinter file registration state. Whether or not image data is receivedis judged at S11. When the image data is received, Yes at S11, thereceived image data is bitmapped (i.e., an image is bitmapped so that itcan be printed or stored in a memory) at S12. At S13, whether or not theprocess has been completed is judged. When the bitmapping process hasbeen completed, Yes at S13, whether or not the apparatus is in a printerfile registration state is judged at S14. When the apparatus is judgedto be in the printer file registration state, Yes at S14, the image datais stored in a memory at S15. At S16, whether or the storage of theimage data has been completed is judged. When the storage of the imagedata has been completed, Yes at S16, page number information isincremented at S17 in the management file where the image data is storedhaving a printer registration management file number. When the apparatusis not in the printer file registration state at S14, i.e. No at S14, ausual printing operation is executed at S14-1. At S14-2, whether or notthe printing operation is completed is judged. According to an exampleof the present invention, an identical bitmap data of an image data usedin a printing operation is used in a storing operation by compressingit. Thereby, a printing operation is quickly performed when printingimage data stored in a memory, resulting in an enhanced printingthroughtput. Image data from the outside can also be stored as it is, ifthe printing throughtput is not necessarily considered.

FIG. 19 is a flowchart illustrating a registrating process of an imageinput from a scanner. Whether or not the reading key 46 is depressed isjudged at S31. When the reading key 46 is depressed on the screendisplaying each file list of stored image data (see FIG. 6), Yes at S31,a management file region is secured at S32 to store a scanner image asfile management data. The apparatus then shifts to a scanner fileregistration state at S33. The obtained management file number at S32 ismemorized as a scanner registration management file number at S34.Information about the number of image pages is initialized as fileinformation at S35. The registration file number is then incremented atS36. Then, the display screen is switched to one for performing astoring operation of an image input from a scanner (see FIG. 8). Whenthe end key 80 displayed on the screen is depressed at S37, i.e. Yes atS37, the scanner file registration state is canceled at S38.

FIG. 20 is a flowchart illustrating a storing operation of image datainput from a scanner. Whether or not the start key 34 is depressed isjudged at S21 as an instruction to start an image reading operation.Then, whether or not an original document exists is judged at S22.Further, whether or not the apparatus is in a scanner file registrationstate is judged at S23. Therefore, the scanner starts a readingoperation when an image reading instruction is given, an originaldocument to be read is set, and the apparatus is in a scanner fileregistration state. The image read by the scanner is stored in a memoryat S24. At S25, whether or not the image has been stored is determined.When the image has been stored, Yes at S25, a page number is incrementedat S26 in the management file where the image is stored having a scannerregistration management file number. At S27, whether or not anadditional original document exists is judged. The above-describedreading and storing operations are repeated until all original documentsare read.

FIG. 21 is a flowchart illustrating a printing operation of image datastored in a memory. Whether or not the start key 34 is depressed isjudged at S41 as an instruction to start a printing operation. When theprinting instruction is given, Yes at S41, image data is read from amemory where corresponding image data is stored. A printing operation isperformed according to instructions set by printing mode setting keys atS42. Whether or not the printing operation is finished is judged at S43.The apparatus stops the operation when the instructed printing operationis finished, i.e. Yes at S43.

Referring to FIGS. 22 through 24, a detailed operation of the apparatusis now described below according to an example of the present invention.FIG. 22 is a flowchart showing a copying process of stored image data.The process is performed when the stored image data copy key 42 isdepressed.

At S51, whether or not a file is selected is judged. When the file isselected, Yes at S51, a file selection process (i.e., displaying theselected file in reverse, and numbering the file in order of selection)is performed at S52. When the file is not selected, No at S51, whetheror not a file selection is released is judged at S51-1. When the fileselection is released, Yes at S51-1, a file selection release process(i.e., canceling the reverse display of the released file, and deletingthe selection order number) is performed at S51-2. Thereafter, when theprinting key 44, the page printing key 45, and the reading key 46 aredepressed, each processing routine is executed.

That is, whether or not the reading key 46 is depressed is judged atS53. When the reading key 46 is depressed, Yes at S53, an image readingoperation is performed at S54 and the process is finished. When thereading key 46 is not depressed, No at S53, whether or not a file isselected is judged at S55. When no file is selected, No at S55, theprocess returns to S51. When the file is selected, Yes at S55, whetheror not the page printing key 45 is depressed is judged at S56. When thepage printing key 45 is depressed, Yes at S56, a page printing processis performed at S57. The process is then finished. When the pageprinting key 45 is not depressed, No at S56, whether or not the printingkey 44 is depressed is judged at S58. When the printing key 44 isdepressed, Yes at S58, a file printing process is performed at S59. Theprocess is then finished. When the printing key 44 is not depressed, Noat S58, whether or not the cancellation key 47 is depressed is judged atS60. When the cancellation key 47 is not depressed, No at S60, theprocess returns to S51. When the cancellation key 47 is depressed, Yesat S60, a selection of all files is released at S61. The process thenreturns to S51.

When a file selection is not made, a file printing and a page printingfunctions are not performed. Therefore, a depression of the printing key44 or the page printing key 45 is disregarded.

The reading processing (S54) described in FIG. 22 corresponds to thecontents of FIGS. 19 and 20. The file printing processing (S59), and thepage printing processing (S57) in FIG. 22 correspond to the contents ofFIGS. 21 and 23, respectively. Details of FIG. 23 are described below.

FIGS. 23A, 23B are flowcharts illustrating the page printing processing(S57) described in FIG. 22. The page printing process includes: {circlearound (2)} a first page printing mode and {circle around (2)} adesignated printing mode. An effective or an ineffective state of eachof these modes is determined by a selection of a file according to thenature of the mode. That is, whether or not each printing mode isperformed is determined depending on whether a plurality of files or asingle file is selected on the display screen in FIG. 6.

More specifically, when a plurality of files is selected, the operationof the designated page printing mode is prohibited. The key itself ismasked to invalidate the depression of the key as shown in FIG. 10. Whena single file is selected, both modes become effective. The first pageprinting mode is temporarily selected as a default mode (the first pageprinting mode is set as a prescribed mode) to reduce time and effort ofan operator in inputting a printing mode. The designated page printingmode can also be set as the default mode.

As illustrated in FIGS. 9 and 11, when the designated page printing modeis effective, a total number of pages of a file is displayed below thedesignated page printing mode key 77 as reference information for anoperator in setting a printing page range. A printing mode is set in avariable “Print Mode” by depressing a printing mode key.

When the start key 34 is depressed, a file printing process is performedaccording to the printing mode set in the “Print Mode”. When the firstpage printing mode is selected, the image data corresponding to thefirst page of the selected file is output. When the designated pageprinting mode is selected, the image data corresponding to thedesignated page of the selected file is output. A printing process isperformed on the output image data for a printing operation.

When the end key 80, shown in FIGS. 9 through 11, is depressed, the pageprinting mode itself ends. When the designated page printing mode key77, shown in FIGS. 9 and 11, is depressed while the designated pageprinting mode is effective, the designated page printing mode is set toperform a designated page range input process. The contents of thedesignated page range input process is described in FIG. 24.

Referring to FIG. 23A, whether or not a file selection is made is judgedat S61. When the file selection is not made, No at S61, a page printingprocess is not performed. Whether or not a plurality of files isselected is judged at S62. When a single file is selected, No at S62,the first page printing mode is made to be a selected state while thedesignated page printing mode is made to be an unselected state at S63.Further, a designated page printing effective flag is set at S64, andall page numbers of the selected file are displayed at S65. The processproceeds to S66. Contrarily, when a plurality of files is selected, Yesat S62, the first page printing mode is made to be a selected statewhile the designated page printing mode is made to be in an ineffectivestate at S62-1. The designated page printing effective flag is reset atS62-2, and the process proceeds to S66.

At S66, the print mode is set at the first page printing mode. Whetheror not the start key 34 is depressed is judged at S67 (FIG. 23B). Whenthe start key 34 is depressed, Yes at S67, whether or not the print modeis the first page printing mode is judged at S67-1. When the print modeis the first page printing mode, Yes at S67-1, a first page printingprocess is performed at S67-2. When the printing mode is not the firstpage printing mode, No at S67-1, a designated page printing process isperformed at S67-3.

When the start key 34 is not depressed, No at S67, whether or not theend key 80 is depressed is judged at S68. When the end key 80 isdepressed, Yes at S68, the page printing process is finished. When theend key 80 is not depressed, No at S68, whether or not the designatedpage printing effective flag is set and the designated page printingmode key 77 is depressed is judged at S69. When the designated pageprinting mode key 77 is depressed, Yes at S69, the print mode is set atthe designated page printing mode at S70. A page input mode is set at astarting page input mode at S71, and a designated page range inputprocess is performed at S72. The process then returns to S67. When thedesignated page printing mode key 77 is not depressed or the designatedpage printing effective flag is not set, No at S69, whether or not thefirst page printing mode key 76 is depressed is judged at S69-1. Whenthe first page printing mode key 76 is depressed, Yes at S69-1, theprint mode is set at the first page printing mode at S69-2. The processthen returns to S67. When the first page printing mode key 76 is notdepressed, No at S69-1, whether or not the print mode is the designatedpage printing mode is judged at S69-3. When the print mode is thedesignated page printing mode, Yes at S69-3, the process proceeds toS72. When the print mode is not the designated page printing mode, No atS69-3, the process returns to S67.

FIG. 24 is a flowchart illustrating the designated page range inputprocessing shown in FIG. 23. According to the flowchart, a judgement ismade six times at S81 through S86. Whether or not the clear key 79 isdepressed is checked at S81. At S82, whether or not the page input modeis the starting page input mode is judged. Whether or not the page inputmode is a [˜] designated page input mode is judged at S83. At S84,whether or not the page input mode is an ending page input mode isjudged. Whether or not ending page data is input is judged at S85. AtS86, whether or not the input ending page data is not greater than thetotal number of pages of the selected file is judged.

When the clear key 79 is depressed in FIGS. 9 and 11, Yes at S81, aninput state is initialized and the process returns to the starting pageinput process (S81-1). When the clear key 79 is not depressed, No atS81, whether or not the page input mode is the starting page input modeis judged at S82. When the page input mode is the starting page inputmode, Yes at S82, whether or not starting page data is input is judgedat S82-1. When no starting page data is input, No at S82-1, the processis finished. When the starting page data is input, Yes at S82-1, whetheror not the starting page is not greater than a total number of pages ofthe selected file is judged at S82-2. When the starting page is notgreater than the total number of pages of the selected file, Yes atS82-2, the input data is accepted and is displayed at S82-4. Contrarily,when the starting page exceeds the total number of pages of the selectedfile, No at S82-2, the starting page is adjusted to the total number ofpages of the selected file at S82-3. The page input mode is made to bethe [˜] designated page input mode at S82-5. A warning display, whichgives an indication when the range of the input data is greater than thetotal page number of the file, may be employed so that an operator canrealize an abnormal page range setting.

When the page input mode is not the starting page input mode, No at S82,whether or not the page input mode is the [˜] designated page input modeis checked at S83. When the page input mode is the [˜] designated pageinput mode, Yes at S83, whether or not the [˜] page range designatingkey 78 is depressed is judged at S83-1. When the [˜] page rangedesignating key 78 is not depressed, No at S83-1, the process isfinished. When the [˜] page range designating key 78 is depressed, Yesat S83-1, the page input mode is made to be the ending page input modeat S83-2. The process is then finished.

When the page input mode is not the [˜] designated page input mode, Noat S83, whether or the page input mode is the ending page input mode isjudged at S84. When the page input mode is not the ending page inputmode, No at S84, the process is finished. When the page input mode isthe ending page input mode, Yes at S84, the process proceeds to S85.

When ending page data is not input, No at S85, the process is finished.When the ending page data is input, Yes at S85, whether or not the inputdata is not greater than a total number of pages of the selected file isjudged at S86. When the input data is greater than a total number ofpages of the selected file, No at S86, the input data is adjusted atS87. When the input data is not greater than the total number of pagesof the selected file, Yes at S86, the ending page data is displayed atS88. The process is then finished.

There are two cases when a printing page range is designated for aplurality of files. That is, (1) to print the designated page range ofeach selected file, and (2) to combine a plurality of files and printthe designated page range of the combined file. Therefore, if thedesignated page printing mode is made to be effective when a pluralityof files is selected, an operator may be confused resulting in aproduction of an erroneous copy. Thus, according to the above-describedexample of the present invention, the designated page printing in thesample printing mode is prohibited when a plurality of files is selected(the designated page printing in the sample printing mode can beperformed only when a single file is selected).

If a sample printing of a designated page range is performed even when aplurality of files is selected, contents of the files can be confirmedwith reliability. For example, when a first page of each selected filedoes not include an image which indicates contents of the file (e.g.,when the first page includes only a cover image which does not indicatethe contents of the file), the contents of the file may not besufficiently confirmed.

Then a second example of the present invention is described below.According to the second example, a designated page range printing isperformed in a sample printing when a plurality of files is selected.The designation of the printing page range for the plurality of files isassumed that a designated page range of each selected file is printed asdescribed in (1) above. Because a construction of hardware is identicalto that of the above-described first example of the present invention,the control which is exercised differently from the first example willbe mainly explained without describing the identical portion of thefirst example.

A file to be output is selected on the screen in FIG. 6 which is thesame procedure as described in the first example. A plurality of filescan be selected. When a file is selected and the page printing key 45 isdepressed, the screen is shifted to that shown in FIG. 25. Of course, afile in which image data input by the scanner 50 is stored can beselected.

FIG. 25 shows a display screen to set a page print output for a sampleprinting of an image stored in a file. In a page printing mode, thefirst page printing mode and the designated page range printing mode canbe selected. In the first page printing mode, only a first page of adesignated file is printed. In the designated page range printing mode,a designated range of pages of a selected file is printed (i.e., thedesignated page range of each selected file is printed in order ofpages). According to this example, both the first page printing mode andthe designated page range printing mode are selected when a single fileis selected or when a plurality of files are selected. In FIG. 25, thedesignated page printing mode is set and a starting page (e.g., page 5)as well as an ending page (e.g., page 7) are input as the printing pagerange.

The designated page printing mode key 77 is depressed to input a page,and a starting page number is input by the ten-key pad 32 (see FIG. 3).When an ending page is input, the [˜] page range designating key 78 isdepressed. The input mode is set at the ending page input mode. Anending page number is then input by the ten-key pad 32. When adesignated page is not correctly input, the clear key 79 is depressedwhich puts the apparatus into a state in which the designated pageprinting mode key 77 is depressed. Then, a correct starting page numbercan be input again. When outputting a single page, the same number(e.g., 5 when page 5 is printed) is input as the starting page numberand the ending page number. When the start key 34 is depressed after thestarting page number alone is input (e.g., 5) without inputting theending page number, the starting page alone (e.g., page 5) is printed.

FIG. 26 is a flowchart illustrating a stored image data copy processaccording to the second example of the present invention. The process isperformed when the stored image data copy key 42 (see FIG. 3) isdepressed. More particularly, a selection of a file or a cancellation ofthe selected file is detected. Depressions of the printing key 44, thepage printing key 45, and the reading key 46 are also detected.

Whether or not a file is selected is judged at S91. When the file isselected, Yes at S91, a file selection process, including displaying theselected file in reverse and numbering the file in order of selection,is performed at S92. The process then proceeds to S93. The fileselection process at S92 is described below in detail referring to FIG.27. When a file is not selected, No at S91, whether or not a fileselection is released is judged at S91-1. When the file selection is notreleased, No at S91-1, the process proceeds to S93. When the fileselection is released, Yes at S91-1, a file selection cancellationprocess, including a cancellation of the reverse display and deletion ofthe selection order number of the selected file, is performed at S91-2.The process then proceeds to S93.

At S93, whether or not the reading key 46 (see FIG. 6) is depressed isjudged. If the reading key 46 is depressed, Yes at S93, an image readingprocess is performed at S94. An operational mode is set at the imagereading process mode at S95. The process then proceeds to S96. When thereading key 46 is not depressed, No at S93, whether or not the pageprinting key 45 (see FIG. 6) is depressed is judged at S97. When thepage printing key 45 is depressed, Yes at S97, a page printing processis performed at S98. The operational mode is set at the page printingmode at S99. The process then proceeds to S96. When the page printingkey 45 is not depressed, No at S97, whether or not the printing key 44(see FIG. 6) is depressed is judged at S100. When the printing key 44 isdepressed, Yes at S100, a file printing process is performed at S101.The operational mode is set at the file printing mode at S102. Theprocess then proceeds to S96. When the printing key 44 is not depressed,No at S100, whether or not the cancellation key 47 (see FIG. 6) isdepressed is judged at S103. When the cancellation key 47 is notdepressed, No at S103, the process proceeds to S96. When thecancellation key 47 is depressed, Yes at S103, the selection of allfiles is cancelled at S104. Then, the process proceeds to S91. At S96,whether or not the stored image data copy mode is completed is judged.The process returns to S91 to continue the process until it judges thatthe stored image data copy mode has been completed.

FIG. 27 is a flowchart illustrating details of the file selectionprocess at S92 in FIG. 26. In this process, a file selection isprohibited and a warning is given when a problem is found in a matchingcheck process of a designated page range (which is described belowreferring to FIG. 29), because a sample printing of a designated pagerange of a selected file can not be performed. Of course, a fileselection state is maintained when no problem is found in theabove-mentioned matching check process. The matching check is made intwo ways. In one way, whether or not a designated page range matcheswith a page range of a selected file is checked. In the other way, adesignated page range is input and whether or not the designated pagerange matches with a page range of a selected file is checked each timea file is selected.

Whether or not the present operational mode is a page printing mode isjudged at S111 in the flowchart illustrated in FIG. 27. When theoperational mode is not the page printing mode, No at S111, a selectionstate is displayed (i.e. a selected file is displayed in reverse and theselected file is numbered in order of selection) at S116.

When the operational mode is the page printing mode, Yes at S111,whether or not a designated printing page is input is judged at S112.When the designated printing page is not input, No at S112, the processproceeds to S116. When the designated printing page is input, Yes atS112, a matching check process of the designated printing page range isperformed at S113. The matching check process of the designated printingpage range is described below referring to FIG. 29.

At S114, whether or not a mismatch between the designated page range andthe page range of the selected file arises is judged. When the mismatcharises, Yes at S114, a selection of a file is prohibited and a warningabout the mismatch is displayed at S115. When no problem in the matchingis found, No at S114, the selection state of the file is displayed atS116.

With this control, the existence of a file in which a mismatch arisescan be indicated to an operator when a selection of a file is made.Thus, the operator can know in advance that there is a file in which thedesignated page range cannot be printed, which previously prevents aproduction of an erroneous copy (i.e., a copy which the operator doesnot want is produced).

A mismatch of a designated page range may arise, for example, when pages5 to 7 are designated as a printing page range while the total number ofpages of a file is only 6 pages, i.e. page 7 is designated to be printedeven though the file does not have a page 7.

FIG. 28 is a flowchart illustrating details of the page printing processof S98 in FIG. 26.

At S121, a designated page range input process is performed (details ofthe process are described referring to FIG. 30). Whether or not thestart key 34 is depressed is judged at S122. When the start key 34 isdepressed, Yes at S122, a designated page printing process (details ofthe process are described referring to FIG. 31) is performed at S124.The process then returns to the process of the flowchart illustrated inFIG. 26. When the start key 34 is not depressed, No at S122, whether ornot the end key 80 is depressed is checked at S123. When the end key 80is depressed, Yes at S123, the process returns to the process of theflowchart illustrated in FIG. 26. When the end key 80 is not depressed,No at S123, the process returns to S121.

FIG. 29 is a flowchart illustrating details of the match check processof designated page range data performed at S113 in FIG. 27. In thisprocess, a match between a page number of each selected file and aninput designated page range data is examined. More specifically, whetheror not the selected file is to be printed based on the input designatedpage range data is judged.

Whether or not files are selected is judged at S131. When files areselected, Yes at S131, the selected files are searched to obtain data onthe smallest page number of a file at S132. Whether or not the smallestpage number is larger than a designated print ending page number is thenchecked at S133. When the smallest page number is smaller than thedesignated print ending page number, No at S133, it is judged at S134that a mismatch between the page number of the files and the designatedprinting page range arises. When the smallest page number is larger thanthe designated print ending page number, Yes at S133, it is judged atS135 that there is no problem in the match between the page number ofthe files and the designated printing page range. When no file selectionis made, No at S131, the process proceeds to S135 judging that there isno problem in the match between the page number of the files and thedesignated printing page range.

FIGS. 30A and 30B are flowcharts illustrating details of the designatedpage range input process performed at S121 in FIG. 28.

According to the flowcharts, a judgement is made six times at S141through S146. Whether or not the clear key 79 is depressed is checked atS141. When the clear key 79 is depressed in FIGS. 9 and 11, Yes at S141,an input state is initialized and the process returns to the startingpage input process at S141-1. When the clear key 79 is not depressed, Noat S141, whether or not the page input mode is the starting page inputmode is judged at S142. When the page input mode is the starting pageinput mode, Yes at S142, whether or not starting page data is input isjudged at S149. When no starting page data is input, No at S149, theprocess is finished. When the starting page data is input, Yes at S149,whether or not the starting page number is smaller than an input endingpage number is judged at S150 (FIG. 30B). When the starting page numberis smaller than the input ending page number, Yes at S150, the startingpage data is renewed at S151. When the starting page number is largerthan the input ending page number, No at S150, the starting page data isexchanged with the input ending page data at S152. At S153, the pageinput mode is made to be the [˜] designated page input mode. A matchbetween the designated page range and the number of pages of files ischecked at S154. Whether or not a mismatch between the designated pagerange and the number of page of files arises is judged at S155. Whenthere is no problem in the match, Yes at S155, the process is finished.When a problem is found in the match, No at S155, the ending page datais adjusted to the smallest page number of a file in the selected filesat S156.

When the page input mode is not the starting page input mode at S142,i.e. No at S142, whether or not the page input mode is the [˜]designated page input mode is checked at S143. When the page input modeis the [˜] designated page input mode, Yes at S143, whether or not the[˜] page range designating key 78 is depressed is judged at S143-1. Whenthe [˜] page range designating key 78 is not depressed, No at S143-1,the process is finished. When the [˜] page range designating key 78 isdepressed, Yes at S143-1, the page input mode is made to be the endingpage input mode at S143-2. The process is then finished.

When the page input mode is not the [˜] designated page input mode atS143, i.e. No at S143, whether or the page input mode is the ending pageinput mode is judged at S144. When the page input mode is not the endingpage input mode, No at S144, the process is finished. When the pageinput mode is the ending page input mode, Yes at S144, the processproceeds to S145.

When no ending page data is input at S145, i.e. No at S145, the processis finished. When ending page data is input, Yes at S145, whether or notthe input ending page number is larger than the starting page number isjudged at S146. When the input ending page number is larger than thestarting page number, Yes at S146, ending page data is renewed at S147.The process is then finished. When the input ending page number is equalto or smaller than the starting page number, No at S146, the startingpage data is replaced with the ending page data at S148. The processthen proceeds to S154.

FIG. 31 is a flowchart illustrating the designated page range printingprocess performed at S124 in FIG. 28. In this process, images of adesignated page range of each file are output in selection order offiles. That is, a printing operation is performed by reading images fromthe corresponding designated pages of the files in selection order ofthe files.

The number of files (N) for which a page printing is designated isacquired at S161. A variable “i”, which indicates a printing order of afile, is set at 1 at S162. Data on a designated printing page range isacquired at S163. The data includes a print start page and a print endpage. At this time, when the print end page is not designated, the samevalue that is input as the print start page is set as the print endpage. When the print start page is not designated, the same value thatis input as the print end page is set as the print start page. Whenneither the print start page nor the print end page are designated, boththe print start page and the print end page are set at 1. With thisarrangement, the designated page printing operation is performed, whenthe start key 34 is depressed while either the print start page or theprint end page is input. Whether or not all selected files are printed(i.e., i>N) is judged at S164. When the all selected files have beenprinted, Yes at S164, the process is finished.

When all the selected files have not been printed, No at S164, a fileprinting page position (k=PrintStartPage) is set at S165. Image data of“k” page of the file of the printing order number “i” is read out andprinted at S166. Whether or not the designated pages are printed(k≧PrintEndPage) is judged at S167. When the designated pages areprinted, Yes at S167, the above-described variable “i”, which indicatesa printing order of a file, is incremented at S169. When the designatedpages have not been printed, No at S167, the above-described variable“k”, which indicates a page number, is incremented at S168 to preparenext printing page data. The process then returns to S166.

The flowchart in FIG. 31 can be used to perform the process of S67-3 inFIG. 23. In this case, “N” is always set at 1 at S161 in FIG. 31 becauseonly a single file is selected when the designated page printing mode isselected according to the first example of the present invention.

By the above-described sample printing mode, images of designated pagesof selected files can be visually checked (by a sample printing). Thus,contents of the files can be confirmed with accuracy. Further, a matchbetween a designated printing page range in a sample printing mode and apage range of selected files is checked and a warning is given when amismatch arises. Therefore, an operator does not need to judge the matchbetween the designated printing page range in the sample printing modeand the page range of the selected files. When there are many files orwhen a file has a large number of pages, it is hardly possible for theoperator to remember the data and judge whether or not the designatingprinting page range matches with the page range of the selected files.Thus, the apparatus is user-friendly. A production of an erroneous copyis also prevented which avoids unnecessary consumption of recordingsheets and wasting time. Furthermore, in the sample printing mode, whena printing page range, which does not match with a page range ofselected files, is designated, the designated printing page range isautomatically adjusted so as to match the page range of the selectedfiles. Hence, an appropriate sample printing is executed so that anoperator can visually check contents of files to prevent a production ofan erroneous copy, even when the operator erroneously inputs thedesignated printing page range.

Next, a third example of the present invention is described below.According to this example, when a designated printing page range inputby an operator in a sample printing mode does not match with a pagerange of a selected file, only an image which can be output is output asthe sample print. Because a construction of hardware is identical tothose of the above-described examples, the control which is exerciseddifferently from those examples will be mainly explained withoutdescribing the identical portion of the previous examples.

A file to be output is selected on the screen in FIG. 6 which is thesame procedure as described in the above-described examples. A pluralityof files can be selected. When a file is selected and the page printingkey 45 is depressed, the screen is shifted to that shown in FIG. 25. Ofcourse, a file in which image data input by the scanner 50 is stored canbe selected as in the above-described examples.

According to the third example of the present invention, a stored imagedata copy process is identical to that described referring to FIG. 26,except for the contents of the designated page range input process (S121in FIG. 28) performed in the page printing process (S98, details of theprocess are described referring to FIG. 28) of the flowchart illustratedin FIG. 26 and the designated page printing process (S124 in FIG. 28).The designated page range input process and the designated page printingprocess according to the third example of the present invention aredescribed below referring to FIGS. 32 and 33, respectively.

FIGS. 32A, 32B are flowcharts illustrating details of the designatedpage range input process in the page printing process of the storedimage data copy process.

According to the flowcharts, a judgement is made six times at S191through S196. Whether or not the clear key 79 is depressed is checked atS191. At S192, whether or not the page input mode is the starting pageinput mode is judged. Whether or not the page input mode is the [˜]designated page input mode is judged at S193. At S194, whether or notthe page input mode is the ending page input mode is judged. Whether ornot the ending page data is input is judged at S195. At S196, whether ornot the input ending page number is larger than an input starting pagenumber is judged.

When it is judged that the clear key 79 is depressed in FIG. 9 and 11,Yes at S191, an input state is initialized and the process returns tothe starting page input process at S191-1. When the clear key 79 is notdepressed, No at S191, whether or not the page input mode is thestarting page input mode is judged at S192. When the page input mode isthe starting page input mode, Yes at S192, whether or not starting pagedata is input is judged at S199. When no starting page data is input, Noat S199, the process is finished. When the starting page data is input,Yes at S199, whether or not the starting page number is not larger thanan input ending page number is judged at S200 (FIG. 32B). When thestarting page number is smaller than the input ending page number, Yesat S200, the starting page data is renewed at S201. When the startingpage number is larger than the input ending page number, No at S200, thestarting page data is exchanged with the input ending page data at S202.At S203, the page input mode is made to be the [˜] designated page inputmode. The process is then finished.

When the page input mode is not the starting page input mode at S192,i.e. No at S192, whether or not the page input mode is the [˜]designated page input mode is checked at S193. When the page input modeis the [˜] designated page input mode, Yes at S193, whether or not the[˜] page range designating key 78 is depressed is judged at S193-1. Whenthe [˜] page range designating key 78 is not depressed, No at S193-1,the process is finished. When the [˜] page range designating key 78 isdepressed, Yes at S193-1, the page input mode is made to be the endingpage input mode at S193-2. The process is then finished.

When the page input mode is not the [˜] designated page input mode atS193, i.e. No at S193, whether or the page input mode is the ending pageinput mode is judged at S194. When the page input mode is not the endingpage input mode, No at S194, the process is finished. When the pageinput mode is the ending page input mode, Yes at S194, the processproceeds to S195.

When no ending page data is input, No at S195, the process is finished.When ending page data is input, Yes at S195, whether or not the inputending page number is larger than the starting page number is judged atS196. When the input ending page number is larger than the starting pagenumber, Yes at S196, ending page data is renewed at S197. The process isthen finished. When the input ending page number is equal to or smallerthan the starting page number, No at S196, the starting page data isreplaced with the ending page data at S198. The process is thenfinished.

FIGS. 33A, 22B are flowcharts illustrating details of the designatedpage printing process in the page printing process of the stored imagedata copy process. In this process, a match between a page number ofeach selected file and an input designated page range data is examined.When the number of pages of a file of the printing order number “i”(FilePage) is larger than an ending page (PrintEndPage) of a designatedprinting page range (i.e., FilePage<PrintEndPage, for example, thedesignated ending page is 5 while the number of pages of the file is 3),a mismatch between the designated page and the file page data arises.Then, the designated page printing process of the file, in which amismatch is found, is performed by temporarily adjusting the printingending page (PrintEndPage) to the number of pages of the file(FilePage), i.e. making PrintEndPage=FilePage.

In this case, because an output of the designated page range of the fileis not guaranteed, file information (selected order of the file, filename, and so forth) and the number of pages printed are memorized. Theinformation is used to give a warning about an occurrence of a mismatchwhen all the selected files are printed. The above-described match ischecked for each selected file, and then a designated page printingoperation is performed for all selected files.

The number of files (N) for which a page printing is designated isacquired at S171. A variable “i”, which indicates a printing order of afile, is set at 1 at S172. Data on a designated printing page range isacquired at S173. The data includes the print starting page(PrintStartPage) and the print ending page (PrintEndPage). Whether ornot all selected files are printed (i.e., i>N) is judged at S174. Whenthe all selected files have been printed, Yes at S174, the processproceeds to S174-1. At S174-1, whether or not there is a file in which amismatch problem arises is judged. When no mismatch problem is found ina selected file, No at S174-1, the process is finished. When a file inwhich the mismatch problem arises is found, Yes at S174-1, informationon the file is memorized, and displayed at S174-2. The process is thenfinished.

When all the selected files have not been printed at S174, i.e. No atS174, page number data (FilePage) of a file of print order number “i” isacquired at S175. Whether or not the page number of the file (FilePage)is larger than the print ending page (PrintEndPage) of the designatedprinting page range (i.e., FilePage>PrintEndPage) is checked at S176(FIG. 33B). When the page number of the file (FilePage) is larger thanthe print ending page number (PrintEndPage), Yes at S176, the processproceeds to S177. When the page number of the file (FilePage) is notlarger than the print ending page number (PrintEndPage), No at S176, theprocess proceeds to S176-1, i.e. when the match problem arises, theprocess proceeds to S176-1. The print ending page number (PrintEndPage)is adjusted to the page number of the file (FilePage) for the file inwhich the match problem arises at S176-1, making the PrintEndPage equalto the FilePage. A flag (CheckNG) indicating the problem in the match isset at S176-2. The file information, including the printing order, thefile name, and the number of printing page(=PrintEndPage−PrintStartPage+1) is memorized at S176-3. The processthen proceeds to S177.

At S177, the match between the designated starting page and the numberof pages of the file is checked. That is, whether or not the FilePage islarger than the PrintStartPage (i.e., FilePage>PrintStartPage) isjudged. When the FilePage is larger than the PrintStartPage, Yes atS177, the file print page position (k=PrintStartPage) is set at S177-1.Image data of “k” page(s) of the file of the printing order number “i”is (are) read out and printed at S177-2. Whether or not the designatedpages have been printed (k≧PrintEndPage) is judged at S177-3. Theabove-described variable “i”, which indicates a printing order of files,is incremented at S177-4, if No in S177-3, to prepare next printing pagedata. The process returns to S177-3. When all designated pages have beenprinted, the process proceeds to S181 from S177-3.

When the FilePage is not larger than the PrintStartPage at S177, i.e. Noat S177, the designated page range data is adjusted at S178. Thisadjustment makes both the PrintStartPage and the PrintEndPage to zero(i.e., PrintStartPage=0, PrintEndPage=0) such that no page is printed.The flag (CheckNG) indicating the problem in the match is set at S179.The file information, including the printing order, the file name, andthe number of printing page (=PrintEndPage−PrintStartPage+1) ismemorized at S180. The above-described variable “i” is incremented toprepare the next file printing order at S181. The process then returnsto S173.

As described above, in the designated page range printing mode of thesample printing, an appropriate output is not guaranteed when a mismatchbetween the number of pages of a selected file and input printing pagerange data arises. Therefore, it is necessary to inform an operator thata desired output (i.e., selected file number×designated page number) isnot obtained. Thus, according to the example of the present invention, aresult of a check on the match of each file is memorized. An operator isnotified of the result whenever a mismatch arises. With thisarrangement, the operator can recognize that a sample print has not beenperformed according to an instruction of the operator. The operator canexamine contents of a file by the output images, which prevents theoperator from making a mistake in identifying the contents of the file.

Information about the printed page number or printed page range may bedisplayed after a sample printing is completed so that the operator isnotified of an improper output. An example of the display is describedin FIG. 34. According to the example, information about a plurality ofselected files for which a sample printing is performed is displayed.The information includes a printing order, a file name, a designatedpage range (printing page range in FIG. 34) of each file, the printingpage number (the number of pages of the designated page range), and atotal page number of each file. Above the above-described information, awarning, such as “Designated page range mismatches with file pagenumber. Caution should be exercised when confirming resultant print” isdisplayed.

According to the example of the present invention, when a designatedpage range printing mode in a sample printing is performed, only imagesthat can be output are printed in a case in which an operatorerroneously designates a printing page range (i.e., a mismatch betweenthe designated page range and the number of pages of selected filesarises). Therefore, the operator does not need to check byhimself/herself whether or not the designated page range matches withthe number of pages of the files designated to be sample printed, whichincreases an operability of the apparatus. Further, the operator canvisually check the contents of files based on the output images, andproduction of an erroneous copy is prevented. When a problem in a matchbetween a designated page range and the number of pages of selectedfiles is found, information about each file for which a sample printingoperation is performed is displayed. Thus, the operator can easilyrecognize the existing problem.

It is possible to download a program for executing the above-describedcontrols to the digital copying machine 200 shown in FIG. 1 from thehost machine 300 via a LAN or a parallel interface. By writing thedownloaded program over a program stored in the ROM 69 (see FIG. 13) ofthe main controller 20, the digital copying machine 200 can have thefunctions of the present invention. The program for performing theabove-described controls can be stored in an IC card or a CD-ROM. Thestored program is read via the I/O port 67 (see FIG. 13) using an ICcard reader or a CD-ROM driver from the IC card or the CD-ROM. The readout program is written over the stored program in the ROM 69 of the maincontroller 20. Thus, the digital copying machine 200 can have thefunctions of the present invention. Whichever method is chosen, the ROM69 is configured to be an element, such as a flash memory in which anerasure and a rewrite of contents are electrically performed.

Obviously, numerous additional modifications and variations of thepresent invention are possible in light of the above teachings. It istherefore to be understood that within the scope of the appended claims,the present invention may be practiced otherwise than as specificallydescribed herein.

This document claims priority and contains subject matter related toJapanese Patent Application No. 2000-150260, filed on May 22, 2000,Japanese Patent Application No. 2001-74748, filed on Mar. 15, 2001, andJapanese Patent Application No. 2001-129511, filed on Apr. 26, 2001, andthe entire contents of each of which are hereby incorporated herein byreference.

1. An image forming apparatus, comprising: a storage device configuredto store input image information; a printer configured to print theimage information stored in said storage device on a recording medium; amanagement data storage device configured to handle a cluster of theimage information stored in said storage device as a file and to storeimage management data and file management data of the image information;a file selector configured to select a plurality of files to be printed;a printing mode selector configured to select between (1) arepresentative page printing mode in which an arbitrary page number isinput and image information of the input page of each of the pluralityof files selected by said file selector is printed and (2) a sampleprinting mode in which a starting page number and an ending page numberare input and the image information of the input range of pages of eachof the plurality of files selected by said file selector is printed; apage range designating device configured to designate a range of pagesto be printed according to the page number input in the selectedprinting mode; and a controller configured to read image information ofa page range designated by said page range designating device in each ofthe plurality of files selected by said file selector out of imageinformation stored in said storage device based on the management datastored in said management data storage device and to print the readimage information by said printer, when a print start instruction isprovided with the printing mode selected by said printing mode selectorand the page range is designated by said page range designating device.2. The image forming apparatus according to claim 1, wherein saidcontroller is further configured to control to print an image of thedesignated range of pages of each of the plurality of files selected bysaid file selector when the print start instruction is provided bydesignating one of the starting page and an ending page of the pagerange using said page range designating device when the sample printingmode is selected.
 3. The image forming apparatus according to claim 1,wherein the page range designated by said page range designating deviceis set to a total number of pages of each of the plurality of filesselected by said file selector when the page range designated by saidpage range designating device is not within a predetermined page rangewhen the sample printing mode is selected.
 4. The image formingapparatus according to claim 1, wherein the sample printing modecomprises: a first page printing mode configured to print a first pageof each of the plurality of files to be printed; and a designated pageprinting mode configured to print a designated page range of each of theplurality of files to be printed in order of pages.
 5. The image formingapparatus according to claim 4, wherein said controller is furtherconfigured to display a total number of pages of each of the pluralityof files selected by said file selector on a display device of the imageforming apparatus when the designated page printing mode is selected inthe sample printing mode.
 6. The image forming apparatus according toclaim 4, wherein said controller is further configured to allowperformance of the first page printing mode and the designated pageprinting mode, when the plurality of files are selected by said fileselectot and when the sample printing mode is selected by said printingmode selector.
 7. The image forming apparatus according to claim 6,wherein said controller is further configured to judge a mismatchbetween a number of pages of any of the plurality of files selected bysaid file selector and a page range designated by said page rangedesignating device.
 8. The image forming apparatus according to claim 7,wherein said controller is further configured to judge whether or notthe page range designated by said page designating device mismatcheswith the number of pages of any of the plurality of files whenever thepage range is designated by said page designating device, when theplurality of files are selected by said file selector.
 9. The imageforming apparatus according to claim 8, wherein the controller isfurther configured to adjust the page range designated by said pagerange designating device for each of the plurality of files in which themismatch arises.
 10. The image forming apparatus according to claim 7,wherein said controller is further configured to judge whether or notthe number of pages of any of the plurality of files mismatches with thepage range designated by said page designating device whenever theplurality of files are selected by said file selector, when the pagerange is designated by said page range designating device.
 11. The imageforming apparatus according to claim 10, wherein said controller isfurther configured to prohibit a selection of any of the plurality offiles when the mismatch arises.
 12. The image forming apparatusaccording to claim 7, wherein said controller is further configured tomake the ending page number of the page range designated by said pagerange designating device for any of the plurality of files in which themismatch arises equal to the number of pages of each respective of theplurality of files when the mismatch arises.
 13. The image formingapparatus according to claim 7, wherein said controller is furtherconfigured to display a warning on the display device of the imageforming apparatus when the mismatch arises.
 14. The image formingapparatus according to claim 13, wherein the warning displayed on thedisplay device includes the number of pages output in the sampleprinting mode for each of the plurality of files selected by said fileselector.
 15. The image forming apparatus according to claim 13, whereinthe warning displayed on the display device includes the page rangedesignated by said page range designating device for each of theplurality of files selected by said file selector.
 16. The image formingapparatus according to claim 4, wherein the sample printing mode isregulated by one of the first page printing mode and the designated pageprinting mode.
 17. A method for controlling an image forming apparatushaving a sample printing mode in which image information of a range ofpages of a plurality of selected files is printed, the range of pagesbeing designated by inputting a starting page number and an ending pagenumber, comprising: reading only image information of a first page ofthe plurality of selected files out of stored image information andprinting the read image information when an instruction to print thefirst page of the plurality of selected files is provided in the sampleprinting mode; and reading image information of a designated page rangeof the plurality of selected files out of stored image information andprinting the read image information when an instruction to print thedesignated page range of the plurality of selected files is provided inthe sample printing mode when the designated page range is specified byinputting the starting page number and the ending page number.
 18. Themethod according to claim 17, further comprising: printing an image ofthe designated range of pages of each of the plurality of selected fileswhen one of the starting page number and an ending page number isprovided to designate the page range.
 19. The method according to claim17, further comprising: adjusting the designated page range to a totalnumber of pages of each of the plurality of selected files when thedesignated page range of each of the plurality of selected files is notwithin a predetermined page range.
 20. The method according to claim 17,further comprising: judging a mismatch between a number of pages of anyof the plurality of selected files and the designated page range. 21.The method according to claim 20, further comprising: judging whether ornot the designated page range mismatches with a number of pages of anyof the plurality of selected files whenever the page range isdesignated.
 22. The method according to claim 20, further comprising:judging whether or not a number of pages of any of the plurality ofselected files mismatches with the designated page range whenever theplurality of files are selected.
 23. The method according to claim 22,further comprising: prohibiting a selection of any one of the pluralityof selected files when the mismatch arises.
 24. The method according toclaim 20, further comprising: adjusting the ending page number of thedesignated page range of each of the plurality of selected files inwhich the mismatch arises to the number of pages of the selected filewhen the mismatch arises.
 25. The method according to claim 20, furthercomprising: displaying a warning on a display device of the imageforming apparatus when the mismatch arises.
 26. The method according toclaim 17, further comprising: setting one of (1) a control in which theimage information of the first page of each of the plurality of selectedfiles is read and printed and (2) a control in which the imageinformation of the designated page range of each of the plurality ofselected files is read and printed as a regulating mode of the sampleprinting mode.
 27. A computer readable medium storing a program forcontrolling an image forming apparatus, comprising: a first computercode for judging whether or not a plurality of files to be printed isselected; a second computer code for selecting a representative pageprinting mode in which an arbitrary page number is input and the imageinformation of the input arbitrary page number of each of the pluralityof selected files is printed or a sample printing mode in which astarting page number and an ending page number are input and the imageinformation of the input range of pages of each of the plurality ofselected files is printed, when the plurality of files is selected; athird computer code for selecting a first page printing mode to print afirst page of each of the plurality of selected files or a designatedpage printing mode to print a designated page range of each of theplurality of selected files in order of page, when the sample printingmode is selected; a fourth computer code for designating a page rangeaccording to the input of the page numbers when the designated pageprinting mode is selected; and a fifth computer code for reading andprinting image information of the designated page range of each of theplurality of selected files when an instruction to print is providedwith the page range designated.
 28. The computer readable mediumaccording to claim 27, further comprising: a sixth computer code forreading and printing only image information of the designated page ofeach of the plurality of selected files when a print start instructionis provided with designating one of the starting page and an ending pageof the designated page range by the fourth computer code.
 29. Thecomputer readable medium according to claim 27, further comprising: aseventh computer code for setting the designated page range to a totalnumber of pages of each of the plurality of selected files when the pagerange of any of the plurality of selected files designated by the fourthcomputer code is not within a predetermined page range.
 30. The computerreadable medium according to claim 27, further comprising: a tenthcomputer code for judging whether or not a mismatch between a number ofpages of any of the plurality of selected files and the page rangedesignated by the fourth computer code arises.
 31. The computer readablemedium according to claim 27, further comprising: an eleventh computercode for judging whether or not the designated page range mismatcheswith a number of pages of any of the plurality of selected fileswhenever the page range is designated by the fourth computer code. 32.The computer readable medium according to claim 27, further comprising:a twelfth computer code for selecting a primary printing mode in whichall the image information of each of the plurality of selected files isprinted or a sample printing mode in which a part of the imageinformation of each of the plurality of selected files is printed; athirteenth computer code for selecting each of the plurality of files tobe printed when the primary printing mode or the sample printing mode isselected; and a fourteenth computer code for judging whether or not anumber of pages of any of the plurality of selected files mismatcheswith the page range designated by the fourth computer code whenever theplurality of selected files is selected.
 33. The computer readablemedium according to claim 32, further comprising: a fifteenth computercode for prohibiting a selection of a file to be printed when themismatch between the number of pages of any of the plurality of selectedfiles and the page range designated by the fourth computer code arises.34. The computer readable medium according to claim 32, furthercomprising: a sixteenth computer code for adjusting the ending pagenumber of the designated page range of any of the plurality of selectedfiles in which the mismatch arises to the number of pages of theselected file when the mismatch arises.
 35. The computer readable mediumaccording to claim 32, further comprising: a seventeenth computer codefor displaying a warning on a display device of an image formingapparatus when the mismatch arises.
 36. The computer readable mediumaccording to claim 27, further comprising: an eighteenth computer codefor setting the sample printing mode to be regulated either by the firstpage printing mode or by the designated page printing mode withoutnecessitating the step performed by the third computer code forselecting the first page printing mode to print a first page of each ofthe plurality of selected files or the designated page printing mode toprint a designated page range of each of the plurality of selected filesin order of pages when the sample printing mode is selected.
 37. Animage forming apparatus, comprising: storage means for storing inputimage information; printer means for printing the image informationstored in said storage means on a recording medium; management datastorage means for handling a cluster of the image information stored insaid storage means as a file and for storing image management data andfile management data of the image information; file selector means forselecting a plurality of files to be printed; printing mode selectormeans for selecting between (1) a representative page printing mode inwhich an arbitrary page number is input and the image information of theinput page number of each of the plurality of files selected by saidfile selector means is printed and (2) a sample printing mode in which astarting page number and an ending page number are input and the imageinformation of the input range of pages of each of the plurality offiles selected by said file selector means is printed; page rangedesignating means for designating a range of pages to be printedaccording to the page number input in the selected printing mode; andcontroller means for reading image information of a page rangedesignated by said page range designating means in each of the pluralityof files selected by said file selector means out of image informationstored in said storage means based on the management data stored in saidmanagement data storage means and for printing the read imageinformation by said printer means, when a print start instruction isprovided with the printing mode selected by said printing mode selectormeans and the page range designated by said page range designatingmeans.
 38. The image forming apparatus according to claim 37, whereinsaid controller means further controls printing an image of thedesignated page of each of the plurality of files selected by said fileselector means when the print start instruction is provided bydesignating one of the starting page and an ending page of the pagerange using said page range designating means when the sample printingmode is selected.
 39. The image forming apparatus according to claim 37,wherein the page range designated by said page range designating meansis set to a total number of pages of each of the plurality of filesselected by said file selector means when the page range designated bysaid page range designating means is not within a predetermined pagerange when the sample printing mode is selected.
 40. The image formingapparatus according to claim 37, wherein the sample printing modecomprises: first page printing means for printing a first page of eachof the plurality of files to be printed; and designated page printingmeans for printing a designated page range of each of the plurality offiles to be printed in order of pages.
 41. The image forming apparatusaccording to claim 40, wherein said controller means further displays atotal number of pages of each of the plurality of files selected by saidfile selector means on a display means of the image forming apparatuswhen the designated page printing mode is selected in the sampleprinting mode.
 42. The image forming apparatus according to claim 40,wherein said controller means further allows performance of the firstpage printing mode and the designated page printing mode, when theplurality of files is selected by said file selector means and when thesample printing mode is selected by said printing mode selector means.43. The image forming apparatus according to claim 42 wherein saidcontroller means further judges a mismatch between the number of pagesof any of the plurality of files selected by said file selector meansand a page range designated by said page range designating means. 44.The image forming apparatus according to claim 43, wherein saidcontroller means further judges whether or not the page range designatedby said page designating means mismatches with a number of pages of anyof the plurality of files whenever the page range is designated by saidpage designating means, when the plurality of files is selected by saidfile selector means.
 45. The image forming apparatus according to claim44, wherein the page range designated by said page range designatingmeans is adjusted for each of the plurality of files in which themismatch arises.
 46. The image forming apparatus according to claim 43,wherein said controller means further judges whether or not a number ofpages of any of the plurality of files mismatches with the page rangedesignated by said page designating means whenever the plurality offiles is selected by said file selector means, when the page range isdesignated by said page range designating means.
 47. The image formingapparatus according to claim 46, wherein said controller means furtherprohibits a selection of any of the plurality of files when the mismatcharises.
 48. The image forming apparatus according to claim 43, whereinsaid controller means further makes the ending page number of the pagerange designated by said page range designating means for any of theplurality of files in which the mismatch arises equal to the number ofpages of each of the plurality of files when the mismatch arises. 49.The image forming apparatus according to claim 43, said controller meansfurther displays a warning on the display means of the image formingapparatus when the mismatch arises.
 50. The image forming apparatusaccording to claim 49, wherein the warning displayed on the displaymeans includes the number of pages output in the sample printing modefor each of the plurality of files selected by said file selector means.51. The image forming apparatus according to claim 49, wherein thewarning displayed on the display means includes the page rangedesignated by said page range designating means for each of theplurality of files selected by said file selector means.
 52. The imageforming apparatus according to claim 40, wherein the sample printingmode is regulated by one of the first page printing mode and thedesignated page printing mode.